George sciimitt



(No Model.)

G SGHMITT FOLDING GON-DIMENT REGEPTAGLE.

Patent ed' Dec. 3, 1889.

//v VE/VIOR:

J/LMW g ATTORNEYS.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- GEORGE SCHMITT, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CONDIMENT-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,425, dated December 3, 1889.

Application filed June 28, 188 9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SCHMITT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Condiment-Receptacle, of which the following is a-full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a folding receptacle for holding condimentssuch as salt or pepperand has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of this character, which will protect the condi ments from dust or foreign matter and from spilling, and may be readily folded up when not in use, and presents an attractive appearance on the table in either folded or unfolded condition.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the condiment-receptacle, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved condiment-receptacle in folded condition. Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof unfolded for use; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the receptacle, showing a slightlymodified method of hinging the covers of the individual condiment boxes or cups.

My improved condiment receptacle is made with two individual boxes or cups A B, to adjacent ends of which are fixed in any suitable manner the outer ends of two plates 0 C, which are hinged together at c, at which point or knuckle are also preferably hinged the lids or covers A B of the boxes A 13, respectively, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings; but these lids may be hinged to the main hinge-plates C C, at points 0' c, at opposite sides of the knuckle c of the hingeplates, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The lids A B are provided, respectively, with suitable springcatches a b, which are adapted to engage the edges of the boxes A B, respectively, and hold or look the lids closed tightly to the upper edges of theboxes to prevent discharge or loss of condiments from them when-the receptacle is folded up.

I propose to put salt in the box A and Serial No. 315,885. (No model.)

black and red pepper in the box B, which is provided with a partition I), to keep the two kinds of pepper separate. I also provide the a latch device, which will hold them together when they are thrown back to open the condiment-boxes, so that the two lids when thus latched together will not fall onto and close outer or free ends of the box-lids A B with the boxes, and in 'this adjustment the lids also serve as an efficient and convenient handle by which to carry the open receptacle or to move it from place to place on a diningtable. The latch I mayprefer to use consists of two small balls D D, one held by a somewhat elastic stem to the outer end of each falling below a horizontal alignment, these projections orstops being preferably the two pairs of legs a a and b b of the boxes A B, respectively, and these four legs also support the condiment receptacle when it is. fully folded up, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Two other pairs of legs a a b b on the boxes A B, respectively, assist in supporting the open receptacle and relieve the hingejoint of the boxes of excessive strain. When the condiment-receptacle is to be closed, the

lids A B will be unlatched at D, and will be swung down and latched at ab to the condiment-boxes A B, and the boxes will then be swung upward on the hinge C until their lids meet face to face and are again secured 0 together by the latch D. When folded, the receptacle can be safely carried in the pocket without danger of spilling the condiments, or it may be stood upon its leg-supports a W,

as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, upon a 5 table, sideboard, or other support. To unfold the receptacle, it is only necessary to first unlatch the boxes at D, turn them down on the hinge O, unlatch the lids from the boxes at a b, and then swing the lids upward and se-gro'o cure them together again by the latch D; as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. I

I am not limited to any particular size and form of the parts of the condiment-receptacle, but I consider the semi-elliptical general form of the condiment-boxes shown in the drawings is desirable, and susceptible of manufacture in china, porcelain, wood, metal, or other materials with any desired ornamentation. The condiment boxes or cups may also be made in the form of nutshells or sea-shells or in a great variety of forms, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding condinient-receptacle consisting of two boxes hinged together, each having a lid or cover, and a latch device adapted to hold the open lids to each other, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A folding condiment-receptacle consisting of two boxes hinged together, each having a hinged lid or cover, latches adapted to hold the lids closed to their respective boxes, and a latch adapted to hold the opened lids to each other, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A folding condiment receptacle comprising two boxes hinged together, each having a lid, and provided with stops 0r projections which come in contact when the receptacle is unfolded or opened to hold its boxes about in the same plane, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In a folding condiment-receptacle the combination, with two boxes hinged together, of a lid for each box, hinged at the main hinge of the boxes, and a latch deviceadapted to hold the open lids to each other, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a folding condiment-receptacle, the combination, with two boxes hinged together, of a lid for each box hinged at the main hinge of the boxes, and latches adapted to hold them closed to the boxes, said lids provided with a latch device holding them together when open, substantially as herein set forth.

GEORGE SCHMIT'I.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY L. GooDWm, EDGAR TATE. 

